Not yet taking people in ChinaNo phase

Tests an exercise program for children with autism spectrum disorder

Tests a structured exercise program in children aged 3 to 9 with autism.

Key facts

Who runs it: Chen Li
Where: Chongqing, ChinaSee the site
Trial code: NCT07104708
Registry title: Effects of Systematic Exercise Training on Core Symptoms, Executive Function and Brain Function in Children With ASD
Status: Not yet recruiting
People taking part: 70 people, planned
Started: Aug 2025
Expected to end: Jun 2028
Type of study: Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
Treatments tested: The Child-Parent- Trainer exercise program
The regular physical training
Record updated: 14 August 2025

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for children aged 3 to 9 years with autism spectrum disorder who can take part in a 12-week exercise program.

Age: 3 to 9 years
Sex: All sexes can join
Disease stage: Autism spectrum disorder (DSM-5 criteria) with a diagnosis certificate from a Tertiary A hospital; borderline/normal intelligence or mild intellectual disability; no serious behavior or emotional problems.
Earlier treatment: Children who took part in regular physical exercise in the last 6 months cannot join. Changing treatment after joining is not allowed.

Main reasons for not taking part

Vision or hearing disorders, schizophrenia, emotional disorders, mental retardation, Rett syndrome or other developmental disorders
Medical conditions that limit physical activity, such as asthma, epilepsy, heart disease, or a recent fracture
Head injury, physical disability, major organ disease or severe muscle or bone injury in the past two years
Regular physical exercise in the last 6 months
Unable to keep taking part in the program

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 14 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

Age: 3-9 years old
Meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria for ASD, And hold a certificate of ASD diagnosis issued by a Tertiary A hospital
Borderline/normal intelligence or mild intellectual disability
No serious behavior or emotional problems
Able to simply ask and answer questions
Be able to proactively express the need to use the toilet
There are no physical impairments that affected participation in physical activities, and participants are able to cooperate to complete the intervention
Informed parental consent

Who cannot take part

Vision/ hearing disorders, schizophrenia, emotional disorders, mental retardation, Rett syndrome and other developmental disorders
Medical conditions that limit the ability to be physically active, such as asthma, epilepsy, heart disease, and the acute phase after a fracture
History of head trauma, physical disability, major organ disease, or severe musculoskeletal injury in the past two years
Those who have participated in physical exercise regularly within the last 6 months
Participants who changed treatment intervention midway after inclusion
Unable to cooperate with persistent completion of intervention

Check if you might fit

Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.

Are you between 3 and 9 years old?

Where in China

Growth, Development and Mental health of Children and Adolescence CenterChongqing, ChinaContact: Li Chen, MDNo longer taking part

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

Studies have shown that children with ASD simultaneously have deficits in overall executive function and impairments in basic motor skills, which have a negative impact on cognitive and social all-round development. In recent years, intervention measures for the motor skills of children with ASD have gradually developed. However, based on the existing literature, there is still a lack of recommendations for sports training at present. The sustained effect of exercise intervention training on the core symptoms of ASD remains unclear. In terms of executive function, there are relatively few studies on the executive function of preschool children. The impact of motor training on working memory in school-aged children is still inconsistent. Furthermore, the connection characteristics of different brain regions in children with ASD after physical training remain unclear. This study will include 70 children with ASD aged 3 to 9 years for a multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT). These children will be randomly assigned to the intervention group (Child-Parent-Trainer program) and the control group (regular physical education program) for 12 weeks, 5 days/week, 60 minutes/day training. Children's core symptoms, executive function, child/family quality of life, and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) were assessed at baseline (training weeks 0) and endpoints (training weeks 13 and 17), respectively. To verify the improvement effect of this exercise program on the autism severity, core symptoms and executive functions of children with ASD, as well as its impact on family quality of life. Furthermore, through fNIRS for monitoring changes in brain function, the potential neural physiological mechanisms will be explored.

The 2 groups in the trial

Intervention groupTreatment being tested
The intervention group received systematic exercise training (the Child-Parent- Trainer exercise program) for 12 weeks (5 days/week, 60 minutes/day).
Treatment: The Child-Parent- Trainer exercise program
Control groupExisting treatment, for comparison
The control group received regular physical training courses for 12 weeks (5 days/week, 60 minutes/day).
Treatment: The regular physical training